I am not African because I was born in Africa 
but because Africa was born in me — Dr Kwame Nkrumah

Dis Rasta is Dutty Boukman, Toussaint and Nanny of the Maroons
hearing the inner voice of our ancestors whispering in our ears.

Dis Rasta is the middle passage, Dis Rasta is a body of water
holding revolutions that burst on the altars of resistance.

Dis Rasta is love, vessels vying for a better world
Dis Rasta is the darkened, sweetened nectar of the riotous wine.

Dis Rasta is melanin, melano, dark. Dis Rasta is the one-drop
of blood over generations and generations you try to erase
   but we’re still here.

Dis Rasta is the colour of the earth and the night sky.
Dis Rasta is the colour of my true love’s hair.

Dis Rasta is The Baptist War, Morant Bay Rebellion, 
Dis Rasta is Bedward ascending to the skies.

Dis Rasta is “I’ll fly away, oh Glory, I’ll fly away in the morning
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I’ll fly away.”

Dis Rasta is Marcus Garvey, Franz Fannon & Nkrumah
Dis Rasta chants “if you have no confidence in self,
   you are twice defeated in life.”

Dis Rasta will return to the “gate of no return”
Dis Rasta will return, and return for all those that didn’t return.

Dis Rasta will scream, I am black, not because of curse
but because my skin has captured all the cosmic glory.

Dis Rasta is truly a drop of sun under this wretched earth
Dis Rasta is old, gifted and black and that’s a fact.

Roy McFarlane FRSL is a poet, writer, tutor and former youth & community worker living in Brighton. The Way of the Poet (Nine Arches Press) is coming out in October 2026.
Poetry submissions to [email protected]